Floating pump for irrigation and other applications

ABSTRACT

A submersible pump for irrigation and other purposes is enclosed within a floating housing including a buoyant top portion, such that the housing remains substantially vertical during use. A spacer bracket is used to keep the pump away from the inner walls of the housing, and, in the preferred embodiment, the bottom portion of the housing is pointed for additional stability. Handles are provided on the outside of the housing for transport purposes. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of floating inlet assemblies are provided, which attach by hoses through opposing sides of the pump housing. The openings through the walls of the housing are preferably at different heights for the two inlet assemblies, so that one of the inlets will function as a backup if the other fails.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to submersible pumps and, in particular, to a floating pump for irrigation and other purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For irrigation purposes, it is sometimes desirable to pump water from a nearby pond or lake. While it is possible to simply submerge a pump down to the bottom of the water, this is ordinarily where the sediment builds up, which can quickly lead to pump clogging and malfunctioning. Thus, a more advantageous arrangement would place the pump closer to the surface of the water, where it is cleaner and free from silt and dirt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention improves upon existing submersible pump systems by providing a floating housing into which the pump is positioned. In the preferred embodiment, the housing includes a buoyant top portion, such that the housing remains substantially vertical during use.

A spacer bracket is used to keep the pump away from the inner walls of the housing, and, in the preferred embodiment, the bottom portion of the housing is pointed for additional stability. Handles are provided on the outside of the housing for transport purposes.

In the preferred embodiment, a pair of floating inlet assemblies are provided, which attach by hoses through opposing sides of the pump housing. The openings through the walls of the housing are preferably at different heights for the two inlet assemblies, so that one of the inlets will function as a backup if the other fails. The invention is not limited in this regard, however, in that more or fewer inlet assemblies may be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing which shows the preferred embodiment of the invention in an assembled form during use; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded view drawing of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a drawing which shows the preferred embodiment of the invention in the assembled state ready for use. FIG. 2 is an exploded view drawing of that embodiment. Like numerals are used throughout as designations to lice components and features.

The system, depicted generally at 100, includes a pump housing composed of sheet metal pieces 102, 104, which are joined lengthwise by rivets or screws 106. Spot welding or other joining techniques may be used. In the preferred embodiment, the pump housing has an octagonal cross-section to provide a desired trade-off between interior volume and resistance when placed on an underground surface.

The upper edges of the housing pieces 102, 104 are attached to a support Ting 112 to which, in turn, there is attached an upper place 106 having a central aperture 124. Handles 108, 110 are optionally provided to ease transport.

The bottom edges of the housing pieces 102, 104 are attached to a lower spacer bracket 114, preferably with strengthening ribs and a central area dimensioned to receive pump 120. The pump outlet is attached to pipe 122 which extends through aperture 124 and plate 116. Further attached to the bottom of the assembly is a cone-shaped structure 118, resulting in a pencil-shaped configuration overall.

To keep the assembly substantially vertical in water, a buoyant material, such as Styrofoam, is used in the upward portion, such that, in the water, a substantially vertical orientation is maintained. The lower portion 118 may be filled with a weighted substance, such as cement. Note that the spacer bracket 114 keeps pump 120 away from the walls 102, 104 of the housing, whether it is in the water or placed horizontally on the ground surface during periods of nonuse.

In the preferred embodiment, two inlet assemblies 130 are used. Each inlet assembly has a central, perforated inlet tube 132, connected to an outlet 134 which, in turn, attaches by a hoses 136, 137 to ports at different heights and on opposing sides of the housing. The inlet assemblies are fabricated using opposing plates 142, 144, which holds a square/rectangular screen 140 in place. 

1. A floating pump system for use in a body of water having a surface, comprising: a hollow housing having an upper portion terminating in an upper wall, a lower portion, and a sidewall defining a central vertical axis; buoyant material disposed within the upper portion of the housing, causing the housing to float in a vertical orientation with at least a part of the upper portion above the surface of the water; a submersible pump supported within the lower portion of the housing using a spacer bracket to keep the pump spaced apart from the sidewall; a water-outlet pipe extending from the pump through the upper wall of the housing for connection to a water-utilization device; and a pair of floating water-inlet assemblies, each in fluid communication with the interior of the housing through hoses coupled to apertures in the sidewall.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the apertures in the sidewall are at different vertical levels.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing has a polygonal cross section.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing has an octagonal cross section.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the submersible pump is supported substantially along the central vertical axis.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the housing is intentionally weighted.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the housing is pointed.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the water-outlet pipe is connected to an irrigation system. 